Okay, so last night as I was trying to sleep I started to think about all those old TV shows that I used to watch when I was home sick from school. (Random, I know!) I was a very nervous child in elementary school and would stay home “sick” a lot. Many times, I was by myself- something I loved! I would watch all these shows that I wasn’t able to under normal circumstances. For the most part, I would end up watching repeats on Lifetime- like Major Dad. I don’t think I ever saw an episode during its original air time- and it’s one of those shows you don’t here about today. I don’t even really remember much of the show! Go figure! I would also watch Sisters- yes the adult show that, as an elementary school aged child, I was too young to watch. The hard part was this was such a soap opera that it was hard at times to keep up with the plot since I was only able to watch it occasionally. Til this day I still associate Sela Ward with the show. Then there was the Disney Channel series The Torkelsons and then the “sequel” Almost Home. I loved these shows. It was because of this show that I really wanted a window seat in my room… although I didn’t want to have to talk to the Man in the Moon. I thought that was just stupid. I’ve been trying to think of other shows I watched while I was “stuck” at home, but I can only think of the talk shows. Springer, Maury and Sally Jesse Raphael. (side-note: I couldn’t remember Sally’s name so I googled “red glasses talk show host” and she popped right up. I find this funny!) You can imagine my disappointment when I was not left home alone and couldn’t watch all the “good” TV.
tv land
Cleaning Machine
The hallway to my room has, for sometime, been a danger to my well being. For some reason, the hallway has become a place for random stuff that no one seemed to know what to do with. With only a narrow passage to my door and a bookcase that sways a bit too much for my liking, it is only a matter of time before I was seriously injured.
Notice how narrow the area where the desk and bookshelf is- and that is the bookshelf that sways when you walk by it… Really, the fact that I have not died yet is amazing. And, since I really don’t want to die I decided it was time to clean the hallway.
Look at the space- the room! No more bumping into things! I even put up art work! …Now, if it will only stay this way!
I’ve been a busy bee!
My door has not been my only arts and crafts project I’ve been working on. I’ve also been working hard on a bunch of other small things over the last few weeks. I finally finished my scrapbook from my 2006 road-trip- just in time for me to start one for my Egypt trip in April. Maybe, if I start now, I will be able to finish this one in a timely manner….
I also spent a week crocheting myself a scarf. Of course, as soon as I was finished with it a heat wave hit. I got my own personal model to showcase my scarf:
In addition to all the Martha-esque projects I also traveled to Boston with Andrea see Separd Fairey speak at the ICA. He was amazing! He spoke so eloquently! We also got a sneak preview of his show… and got his autograph!!! Andrea then helped me frame the stickers I got at the event. (She also helped me frame a pamphlet Brittany had given me from a Starbucks in Egypt… and needless to say it came out SO much better than if I had done it myself!)
Martha would be proud!
My bedroom door is of the french variety and for the last twelve years I’ve used curtains as a way to create privacy. The curtains never really worked well- the rods and/or the hooks would bend- and for the last few years I’ve had this very ugly curtain that has always been on the verge of falling off. For some time now I’ve wanted to replace the curtain with some pretty paper and today I finally did!
How my door has looked since 7th grade...
I went to the art store and found some beautiful paper and the most amazing double-sided tape I’ve ever used! Using a rotary cutter and the template I created, I was able to cut out all fifteen pieces in no time. Taping the paper onto the door took some time just because each window had to been done individually. Overall, the entire project took a little over an hour and a half! The longest part was getting started!
No more ugly curtain!
I love the paper!
Look What I Did!
Monday night I pulled the H key off my laptop. Now, for most people, they would be able to just pop that sucker back on. But not so much in my world. No, I also broke one of the small little plastic tabs that holds the key in place. I obviously do not know my own strength!
So, I logged onto the Dell support page and chated with a nice man online about my problem. The fix? They sent me a brand new keyboard. I asked the man about how hard that is- he claimed it would be easy and sent me directions. Glancing over them I had to admit it did look pretty easy. So now all I had to do was wait for the FedEx delivery.
This is the following conversation I had with my Dad:
Dad: I’ll call Les and see if he can install it for you.
Me: I can do it- it looks easy.
Dad: You can’t do it.
Me: Yes, I can!
Dad: I can’t!
Me: You can’t put new windshield wipers on either, but I can.
Today, just before 3 o’clock my new keyboard arrived! And in under 5 minutes I had my computer up and running!
The Way I See It…
This is one of my favorite quotes on the cups at work. When the Pike Place cups replaced the traditional white ones I was sad I wouldn’t get to see this quote, so when it came back I was ecstatic. I think the reason I like it so much is that it accurately describes how I feel. That feeling of being the only one in the world who doesn’t fit in- that everyone else around you seems to know something you don’t. Like they are all in this secret club and you were absent that day at school when the password was given out. It has taken me a very long time to understand that all you have to do is be pleasant to people and not be afraid to talk them- which goes against everything your mother told you about talking to strangers. For me, working in retail has helped me break that barrier. I find it easier to talk to people standing behind me in line at the grocery store or to the clerk in the store. While I have worked in other retail jobs, Starbucks, I feel, has really pushed me to leave my shy self on the sidelines. Maybe it is the security of the green apron and the hat, but I feel Starbucks has really pushed me out of my safety bubble and into a new world with new possibilities. Of course, there are times when it is easy to smile and say “Hi!” and other times when talking to a complete stranger is the last thing on Earth I want to do. It’s just nice to know that there are other people out there feeling and thinking the same thing as me… and that I’m not so crazy!
Classy
Last night’s dinner: double-cheese pepperoni pizza and a $6.99 white zinfandel.
Dad: Do you want ice? Do you put ice in wine?
Me: I don’t think so. I think that’s considered trashy… and we’re already not using wine glasses.
Dad: Okay, we’ll skip the ice then. Should we just drink the whole bottle?
Me: Sure.
By the last glass both my dad and I were a tad-bit tipsy… and by tipsy I mean drunk. Can you tell we are big drinkers?
President Obama
I really didn’t have an overwhelming urge to watch the inauguration today. I can’t explain my lack of enthusiasm- I mean, I think it’s awesome and wonderful that an African American is now president and I really do feel that change is on the way- but I just didn’t want to watch it. I was more interested in watching the House marathon on USA. My mom, however, was glued to ABC News, so I was more or less “forced” to watch the days events. Then, just before noon I got a call from work. They needed portable speakers for A’s laptop so they could watch (and hear!) the swearing in. So, I quickly dressed, grabbed my speakers and ran over to Starbucks. I have to admit, it was kinda fun to be standing around a laptop with friends (and some customers!) watching it all happen.
Seven Years Bad Luck?
I love plants, but I don’t think they like me- not even a little bit. Every spring my dad and I try to put together our vegetable and flower gardens. We always start out strong- buying the plants and planning where to put them all. And then a week goes by and weeds pop up. And they need to be watered. And well, I’m just so busy! I have visions of our gardens looking like they do in magazines… or even like our neighbours, however, it never happens.
I’ve been wanting to put some plants in my room for awhile- as a way to lighten things up… or something. So last spring while I was at Ikea I bought three bamboo plants (it is supposed to bring happiness), a nice vase and stones. I was so excited. I came home and put the bamboo on the shelf in my room. I was so happy! How could I kill these plants? They can with-stand anything! I’ve spent the last few months caring for my bamboo- adding water as it evaporated and even washing the vase and rocks.
However, even with all my love and caring, I have succeeded in killing one of the hardiest plants out there. Okay, to my credit, it’s not completely dead yet. And it is really only one of the three stalks that seems to be hitting the bucket.
So, if three stalks of bamboo are supposed to bring happiness… and you kill one, what does that mean? I do not think Martha would be too pleased. Not too pleased at all.
Real Estate Tycoon I’m Not!
I haven’t played Monopoly in years, so maybe that can be my excuse as to why the 7-year old triplets I babysit beat my butt in a very heated game Saturday night. Their mother had warned me that they played a hard game, but I didn’t think anything of it. I mean, really, they are 7 and I am 24- it’s a game of buying, selling and bartering, so, clearly I have the upper-hand, right? I don’t know where I went wrong- I bought everything I landed on (when I had the money…) and played hard in the bargaining. I also landed on Chance and Community Chest ALL the time. I think that has something to do with my downfall. While it is nice to land on those spaces every so often, when you are constantly landing on them you don’t get much chance to buy anything. Oh, and I also had to cook dinner during the game… Regardless of which of these aspects contributed to my downfall, all I know is that when 9 o’clock rolled around and it was time for bed I had less then $100 and all my properties were mortgaged. And I was the only one.
